St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-06
MINNEAPOLIS NEWS.
CRANK LEGISLATION.
Drug Stores as Well as Saloons Re-
quired to be Closed.


automatically sealed is an expression
that has before been used in connection with
the closing of saloons, but the phrase applied
yesterday more APPLY than ever before in this
connection. The recent agitation of the new
election laws and the carefulness with which
notifications were given operated to keep the
saloons closed from Il. m. to p. m. Some
of the saloons having restaurants in connec-
tion even closed their doors rather than run
the risk of violating the letter of the law
The Columbia restaurant was OPEN but the
bar was carefully drapcd and labeled closed,
while d row of chairs all around it prevented
any one from approaching within ten feet of
it. A man was also stationed at the door who
said to each conner; "Our bar is closed to-
day." The wholesale LIQUOR houses of g. g.
JacOby, Jonas Brown, A. H. Knowles and
George Mann were found open and reported.
THE DRUG STOKES
had all been notified to close, but about a
dozen kept open. The detectives made a tonr
of the city and reported all that were found
open. which will be prosecuted under the law.
OF the hundred odd drug stores the following
were open: j. r.. HOffiln, 10l Washlntoa ave-
nue. south and 258 First avenue south; P. NJ.
Mark, 123 Washington avenue south; w. ID.
Mathis sol Washington avenue south; n. G.
Williams, SOB Washington avenue south: j
H. Weller, 1888 Hennepin avenue; G. H. Clrk-
Ter, SIG Nicollet avenue: j. P. Hanson, Cedar
avenue and Third street; st. fouls Drug com
pany, 1888 Franklin avenue; w. X. Hicks,
1929 Franklil avenue; Jennison & Co., Eff
teenth and Franklin avenue; ID. w. Williams.
1211 Franklin avenue: C. NJ. Skinner, 1922
Washington avenue south; II. u f. w. Late.
1401 Washington avenue south. The pro-
prietors of these stores had evidently looked
the law up, and decided that it did not apply
to them. j. r. Hoff1in probably voiced the
opinions of these when he said:
Mo luyn M hut
saloons where liquor is sold or given away
shall be closed / dont's sell liquor, conse-
Quently l hold that it does not apply to me-
1 simply dispense liquor as medicine upon
the prescription of a reputable physician.
The law governing pharmacy directs that I
can do this and relieves me from further
responsibility. To illustrate l cannot sell
strychnlne to any one who asks for it, but
can if do so upon the prescription of
reputable physician. If the man should then
take it in my store would not be held re-
sponsible. It's the same way with liquor
can dispense it upon physicians prescrip-
ton, but 1 have not even done this to-day,
and have not sold a bottle Of stomach bitters
/ have been very careful, and expect to test
the letter as we'll as the spirit of the law.
SARCASTIC REMARKS.
All of the drug stores closed had cards on
their doors announcing the fact, which gem
orally read disqualification day." A few
had some sarcastic remarks by way of expla-
nation. One card read, MIR. Ames says you
shall have no medicine to-day" At the drug
store of Melendy s. Lyman, 24l Nicollet ave-
nue., the following notice was posted:
''On account of the old Connecticut blue
laws now being enforced in the city OF Min
neapolis, we are obliged to close this store
during the hours of polling votes, after which
we shall be most happy to serve our custom
ers and friends
The grocery store of c. s. Bracket, 315 and
-1nr t<rYIn
tic use is sold by the quantity, was reported
open. Mr.. Bracket said:
Il had my doubts as to whether the law ap-
piled to me, and went down to consult the
chief of police. Just as | got back a detec-.
tive called and took down my name. thought
I might as well be sheep as lamb then,
and so kept open. | have been careful to
sell no liquor, and that part of my store is
closed. l don't see why l cannot keep my
grocery open to sell articles of food as well as
hotels and restaurants.
THE MAYORS OPINION.
Warrants will probably be sworn out to-day
and prosecutions made of all offenders re-
ported. Mayor Ames said:
''Of course, the law is outrage, but /
must enforce it or be liable myself TO pay
fine or go to jail for sixty days, or both. Per-
taps there is q question as to whether it
applies to drug stores, but until the question
is settled 1 can take no risk. While ain
sorry TO inconvenience the druggists as well
as the public, am glad that the attention of
the people has been called thus prominently
to the bunging, unjust and puritannical laws
which the late crank legislature has inflicted
upon us. There are other laws just as idiotic
and contemplate, and L only hope their en-
forcement will create as great dissatiSfac-
tion.''
The penalty for violation of the law by
proprietors of saloons, barroomS or stores is
by fine from 500 to $500, which is sufficiently
heavy to occasion a strong desire to prove
the law unconstitutional or inoperative.